Strippable dispensing sheath and methods for applying the same to articles of merchandise



May 18, 1965 s. v. WINToN 3,184,05

STRIPPABLE DISPENSING SHEATH AND METHODS FOR APPLYING THE SAME TO ARTICLES OF MERCHANDISE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 5, 1962 i: I. 'l

,INVENTOR SIDNEY V. ,WAI N'FON S. V. WINTON May 18, 1965 STRIPPABLE DISPENSING SHEATH AND METHODS FOR APPLYING THE SAME TO ARTICLES OF MERCHANDISE 2 Sheets-Sheet vIE Filed Deo. 5, 1952 INVENTOR SIDNEY v wim-0N BY M ATTORNEY United States Patent O STRIPPBLE DISPENSING SHEATH AND METH- ODS FR APPLYINQ THE SAME T ARIlCLES GF NERCHANDlSE Sidney V. lli/inten, New York, NX., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Lionel Tintow, North Caldwell, NJ.

Filed Bec. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 242,502 9 Claims. (El. 20e-47) My invention relates to merchandising containers generally and specifically to a strippable dispensing sheath nd methods for applying the same to articles of merchan- In the hardware and home supply retail industry, it is frequently necessary to both display and dispense a wide variety of articles of merchandise having various shapes and sizes, for instance, metal strips, moldings, door saddles, rods, sheets, blades, tubes, pipes and the like.

These articles of merchandise are, Within each particular class, of the same general shape but vary in size. In the past, it has been necessary to either place these items in individual containers such as boxes or to assemble them in tied bundles according to sizes. Recently, the packaging industry has employed a loose-fitting plastic sleeve or bag. The expedient of the box is not only expensive out requires an extremely large iioor area for storage `and display. If an individual container such as a box is not employed, the articles must be bundled together or loosely stacked and are frequently damaged or misplaced. The sleeve or bag is, on the other hand, unsightly and easily torn. It is desirable that such articles of merchandise be both displayed and dispensed individually. The eicient manner of doing so is to hang them on hooks secured to a peg board so that they may be both seen and dispensed individually. In addition, individually sheathed items may be placed in a floor rack or stored, which provides for both display and dispensing.

Therefore, it is among the objects and advantages of my invention to provide a strippable dispensing sheath for articles of merchandise which is applied directly to the article of merchandise as a liquid coating, quickly solidifying thereon forming an airtight, hermetic contour sheath.

Another object of my invention is to provide a strippable dispensing sheath for articles of merchandise which is transparent and easily stripped therefrom.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a strippable dispensing sheath for articles of merchandise which is provided with an integral tear strip partially embedded in the sheath and adapted to rupture and facilitate stripping of the same.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a strippable dispensing sheath which is provided with a tear strip which projects beyond the article of merchandise and may be provided with means for attaching the same to a peg board or the like.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a strippable dispensing sheath for articles of merchandise which may integrally embody a transparent protective container for auxiliary parts related to the articles of merchandise such as screws, bolts, nuts and the like.

Yet a further object of my invention is to provide a strippable dispensing sheath for articles of merchandise which is less costly and more durable than other containers.

Another object of my invention is to provide methods for applying a strippable dispensing sheath to articles of merchandise employing a combination `tear strip and supporting member which may be secured directly to the article of merchandise by means of a pressure sensitive adhesive, the said strip adapted to support the article of merchandise as a liquid plastic coating is applied thereto,

ice

Still another object of my invention is to provide methods for applying a strippable dispensing sheath to articles of merchandise in which auxiliary equipment such as nuts, bolts and the like are lirst sealed within a transparent plastic container and affixed to the article of merchandise by means of a :pressure sensitive adhesive prior to the application of a liquid plastic coating adapted to overlie both the merchandise and the lcontainer secured thereto.

Yet a further object of my invention is to provide met ods for applying a strippable dispensing sheath to articles of merchandise in which auxiliary equipment such as screws, nuts and bolts are seated within contour recesses in a thin plastic sheet and the sheet covered with a transparent plastic member having a pressure sensitive adhesive on both sides, the container being secured to the article of merchandise prior to the application of an overlying coat of liquid plastic which dries to form a hermetically sealed, contour sheath.

These objects and advantages as well as other objects and advantages may be achieved by my invention embodi ments of which are illustrated in the drawings in which:

FGURE l is a side elevational view of a portion of an article of merchandise showing a tear strip iixed thereto and a transparent, strippable dispensing sheath applied over the tear strip and the article of merchandise.

FIGURE 2 is -a side elevational crosssectional view taken along line 2 2 in FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation View of the conveyor sys tem for coating and drying the suspended articles.

FIGURE 4 is a view in perspective oi an elongated, thin transparent plastic sheet having indentations therein to accommodate auxiliary equipment.

FIGURE S is a view in perspective of a carrier showing articles of merchandise suspended therefrom.

FIGURE 6 is a rear elevational view of the tear strip shown in FIGURE l.

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational cross-sectional View o a transparent container for auxiliary equipment such as screws, nuts, bolts, and the like.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, my invention comprises an elongated tear strip il which is allixed directly to an article of merchandise 12. The tear strip l1 may be die cut from a flat sheet of l*heavy paper, cardboard, plastic or the like and comprises a detachable support end 13 formed integrally with an enlarged portion lll separated therefrom by a pair of opposed indentations l5, IS. The indentations l5, :l5 facilitate detaching the removable end 13 from the enlarged portion ld. Formed integrally with the enlarged portion 14- on the opposite side thereof is an elongated tail 16. A hole i7 may be punched through the center of the enlarged portion 14. The rear face of the tear strip ll may be coated with a suitable pressure sensitive adhesive 18. The front face 19 may be provided with printed instructions or advertising material.

it is frequently necessary to merchandise auxiliary equipment such as screws, bolts, nuts and the like with each individual article sold. It is most convenient to secure these screws, nuts, bolts and the like directly to the part with which they are to be used in the manner shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. In FIGURE 4, an elongated sheet of transparent plastic Ztl is shown having a plurality of depressions 2l in the shape of a screw or bolt. The depressions 21 may be formed by any suitable die either when the plastic strip is fabricated or thereafter by the application of heat and pressure. The screw or bolt 22 may be seated Within the depression 2l in a manner to be hereinafter described. A transparent plastic cover sheet 23 having .a pressure sensitive adhesive coating 24 applied thereto is applied to the transparent sheet 2li overlying the depressions 2l. sealing the screws 22 therein. The opposite side of the cover sheet 23 is also profto fthe article Avvided with a pressure sensitive adhesive coating 25 to Tfacilitate ai'hxing the sheet with screws sealed therein to the article of merchandise 12. l The elongated Vsheet may also be provided with perforations 2b Ato facilitate detaching individual units or combinations thereof which contain the precise number and type cf screws for the particular article of merchandise 12.

My method of applying the strippable dispensing sheath of merchandise comprises aixing the tearV fstrip 11 "to 'the article of merchandise 12 by means of theV Lpreqssure sensitive adhesive 18 on its rear face. A

he elongated transparent plastic strip 20 is then passed inver a vibrating table and the screws, nuts, bolts orthe like spread thereon. The vibrating table will cause Athe trate an embodiment of the invention. The component screws 22 to drop into the depressions 21 as the sheet 20 is passed'over the vibrating table.

The transparent covering sheet 23 having the pressure sensitive adhesive 24 applied thereto is axed to the face of the elongated sheet 2t? overlying the depressions 21 and screws 22 thereby sealing the screws 22 within the depressions 21. The top most layer of pressure sensitive adhesive 25 on the cover sheet 23 may be provided with an appropriate strippable protective paper and the assemblage rolled and shipped to the point of application of the transparent plastic sheath. Prior to application of the liquid plastic to the merchandise, the sheet 2t) is separated along the perforated lines 26 or in the alternative, die stamped at appropriate lengths to cut od segrnents having the proper number ofl screws 22. Of course, the sheet may otherwise be cut in any appropriate manner. The pressure sensitive protective paper may then be stripped otl the top most pressure sensitive adhesive layerand the container pressed preferably against the rear face of the article of merchandise 12 in the general proximity of the tear strip 11.

VThe -articles of merchandise 12 are then secured to a rack 27 by means of resilient clips 28 which fastenV to the support end 13 of the tear strip 11. The rack 27 is attached to la pulley lift 25 which is in turn secured to a ,horizontal conveyor belt 30. 1n FIGURE 3,-,the articles of merchandise 12 have been fastened to the rack y27 in the left most portion. Thereafter, the lift 29 pulls the rack 27 with the merchandise 12 attached thereto upwardly through the opening 31 in the ceiling 32 and the conveyor 36 then carries it to the right to a position immediately above a second opening 33. Beneath the second opening 33, there is a vat 34 of a suitable liquid plastic 35. A number of plastics may be employed, such as vinyl chloride, a burterate, or the like. In' addition, While I have shown the process to be one of dipping in a vat of the liquid plasticg'it should be understood that the plastic may be sprayed thereon or applied in any other well-known suitable manner.

The lift'29 thereupon descends lowering the rack 27 so that the articles of merchandise are immersed in the liquid plastic in the vat 34, the top most surface 36 of the liquid plastic 35 extending upwardly overthe enlarged portionlfi of the tear strip 11 and partially upon the support'end 13 thereof. Preferably, the clamps 28 should not touch the plastic 35.

Thereupon, the lift 29 is raised again to Withdraw the articles of merchandise 12 from the vat 34 and the conveyor 30 moves the rack 27 to the righttoa drying area. As may be seen in FIGURE 2, the plastic 35 forms Va transparent coating over the tear strip 11 and over the sheetV 2li having depressions 21.therein containing the screws 22, therebyV forming a hermetic sheath 37 which secures both the tear strip 11 and the screw container irmly to the article of merchandise 12. The liquid plas- -V tic 35 never touches the screws 22 and they are thereforek ready to use immediately when removed from the con-V tainer." In addition, since the clamp 28 engages only the the merchandise 12 or the tear strip 11. After the plastic top most support end 13 of the strip 11, there are no clamp marks or holder marks in the plastic sheath 37 on Y vthe scope of the appended claims, although they are not specifically catalogued herein.

VWhaty is claimed: Y

1. A strippable dispensing sheath for articles of merchandise comprising,

(a) a tear-strip detachably secured yto an article or" merchandise, a portion of the tear-strip extending beyond the edge of the article of merchandise,

(b) a sealed container receiving items complementary 'to the article of 'merchandise detachably secured vto the said article, and

(c) a relatively thin, strippable contour sheath overlying the container, the'artic'le of merchandise and at least that portion of the tear-strip attached to the article of merchandise'.

2. A. strippabl'e dispensing-sheath for articles of merchandise comprising, y

(a) a tear-strip detachably secured to an article of merchandise, a portion of the tear-strip extending beyond the edge of the article of merchandise,

(b) a iirst sheet having -a pressure sensitive adhesive on both sides secured to said article of merchandise by Y means of the said pressure sensitive adhesive,

(c) a second sheet having a depression therein secured to the first sheet byrr'neans of they said pressure sensi- -tive adhesive, said depression receiving an item complementary to the said article, the hrst and 'second sheets colectively dening a sealed container',

{ai}V a relatively, thin, :strippable contour sheath overiying the article of merchandise, the container and that portion of the tear-strip attached to the article of merchandise, the said sheath securing the tearstrip and container to theV article of merchandise.

3. A strippable dispensing sheath for articles of merchandise comprising:

(an)` the structure in accordance with claim l in which:

(b) 'the strippable contour sheath extends on to at least a portion of the tear-strip extending beyond the edge of the said article.

` 4. A rmethod for applying a strippable dispensing sheath to an article of merchandise comprising,

(a) securing a 'tear-strip to the article of merchandise Aby means of a pressure sensitive adhesive, a portion of the tear-strip extending beyond the edge of the article, Y

(b) freely suspending the article of merchandise from the end of the said portion of the tear-strip opposite the article,

(c). applying a relatively thin coating of a liquid plastic over the article of merchandise and tear-strip secured thereto while suspended, the coating exten Ning over at least a part of the portion of the tearstrip extending beyond the edge o' the article, and

. (d) drying theV coating toftorm a strippabie, contour dispensing sheath.

5. method for applying a strippable dispensing sheath comp-rising, Y Y

(il) the method in'accordancewith claim 4, and (b) Vsevering the portion or the tear-strip between-the thereon` 6. A method for applying a strippable dispensing sheath to an article of merchandise comprising:

(a) detachably securing a tear-strip to the article of merchandise, a portion of the tear-strip extending beyond the edge ofthe article,

(b) freely suspending the article ot merchandise from the end of the said portion of the tear-strip opposite the article,

(c) applying a relatively thin coating of a liquid plastic over the article of merchandise, the coating extending over at least a part of the said portion of the tear-strip extending beyond the edge ot the article,

(d) drying the coating to form a strippaole contour sheath.

7. A method for applying a strippable dispensing sheath to an article of merchandise comprising:

(a) the method in accordance with claim 6, and

(b) severing the portion of the tear-strip between the article and the furthest extension of the plastic sheath thereon.

8. A method for applying a strippable dispensing sheath to an article of merchandise comprising,

(a) the method in accordance with claim 6, and

(b) detachably securing a sealed container receiving items complementary to the article of merchandise to the article of merchandise before applying the said relatively thin coating of plastic such that said thin coating when applied extends over -the said container, the article of merchandise and the tear-strip.

9. A method for applying a strippable dispensing sheath to an article of merchandise comprising:

(a) securing a tear-strip to the article of merchandise by means of a pressure sensitive adhesive, a portion of the tear-strip extending beyond the edge of the article,

(b) securing a lirst sheet having a pressure sensitive adhesive on both sides thereof to said article of merchandise by means of the said pressure sensitive adhesive,

(c) applying a second sheet having a depression therein to the r'rst sheet by means of the said pressure sensitive adhesive, said depression receiving an item complementary to said article of merchandise, the irst and second sheets collectively defining a sealed container,

(d) freely suspending the article of merchandise from the end of the said portion of the tear-strip opposite the article,

(e) applying a relatively thin coating of liquid plastic over the article of merchandise, the container and -tne tear-strip secured thereto While suspended, the coating extending over at least a part of the portion of the tear-strip extending beyond the edge of the article, and

() drying the coating to form a strippabie contour dispensing sheath.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,813, 178 7/31 Lindsley 206--46 2,005,665 6/35 Saignier 229-51 2,525,358 10/50 Ienett 20G-t6` 2,818,168 12/57 Tobey et al 206-56 2,858,938 11/58 Seyforth 206--80 2,876,899 3/59 Maynard 206-80 2,968,391 1/61 Sparks 20G-42 3,029,932 4/ 62 Layne 229-51 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE O. RALSTGN, Examiner. 

1. A STRIPPABLE DISPENSING SHEATH FOR ARTICLES OF MERCHANDISE COMPRISING, (A) A TEAR-STRIP DETACHABLY SECURED TO AN ARTICLE OF MERCHANDISE, A PORTION OF THE TEAR-STRIP EXTENDING BEYOND THE EDGE OF THE ARTICLE OF MERCHANDISE, (B) A SEALED CONTAINER RECEIVING ITEMS COMPLEMENTARY TO THE ARTICLE OF MERCHANDISE DETACHABLY SECURED TO THE SAID ARTICLE, AND (C) A RELATIVELY THIN, STRIPPABLE CONTOUR SHEATH OVERLYING THE CONTAINER, THE ARTICLE OF MERCHANDISE AND AT LEAST THAT PORTION OF THE TEAR-STRIP ATTACHED TO THE ARTICLE OF MERCHANDISE. 